| El Taiger | |
| Birth Name: | José Manuel Carvajal Zaldívar |
| Birth Date: | 1987 10, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Cuba |
| Genre: | reggaeton |
| Occupation: | reggaeton artist |
José Manuel Carvajal Zaldívar (6 September 1987 – 10 October 2024), better known by his stage name El Taiger, was a Cuban reggaeton artist.[1]
El Taiger was one of the most popular Cubaton artists. He began his artistic career in the band Los 4, later joining another, the group Los Desiguales, before consolidating himself as a solo singer, becoming one of the most influential voices in Cuban urban music scene. There he introduced his personal brand "the Fashaton", where he fused his musical style with an innovative clothing proposal. This new trend and his growing popularity lead him to adopt a stage name, first as 'El Más Tigre', then 'El Tigraso' and finally 'El Taiger'.[2]
Some of his most popular songs are La Historia and Marca Mandarina. Among his songs are El Ignorante, El Papelito, El Punto , El Sano and Habla Matador, where he used Cuban-rooted urban sound.[3] In latter song he performed together with Puerto Rican singers Bad Bunny, Cosculluela, Bryant Myers, and Colombian artists J Balvin.[4]
He released his first album, Taiger, in 2016.[5] It was released on the label Rottboyz.[3]
El Taiger was featured on the track La Habana, which was included in Fate of the Furious soundtrack.[3]
The artist released his last studio album, 10 Éxitos Duros, in July.[6]
He worked together with his cousin, Jorge Junior, in the Cuban music group Los 4.[7]
On 25 September 2020 he posted online that his mother has died at the age of 53. Some of his friends and accompanists stated that this tragedy started a decline in the singer's emotional state.[8]
He was a devout Catholic, and had gotten an image of the virgin Mary tattooed on his head. He also regularly visited his grandmother and his daughter back in Cuba.[9]
On 28 March 2023, he was arrested for possession of narcotics/controlled substances, more specifically cocaine and methamphetamines. He was later released on a $10,000 bail ($5,000 for each charge).[10]
On 27 November 2023, El Taiger was arrested after an altercation with a security guard outside a Macy's store on the accusation that he has shoplifted a Miami Heat jersey.[11]
In June 2024, El Taiger was arrested because he was driving with a suspended license. A month later, in July 2024, El Taiger was arrested again on suspicion of robbery, assault, and cocaine possession.[12] [13] [14]
El Taiger was found shot in the head inside his car in Miami, Florida, on 3 October 2024.[15] He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he died on 10 October at the age of 37.[16] [17]
After his death, his fans gathered outside of the hospital and delivered a tribute, playing his music and honking horns of cars.[17]